50th Anniversary

HRC 50th Anniversary Gala Ball - July 28th

Tickets to the 50th Anniversary Gala Ball are now available to purchase from Ian Crothers at any Thursday training session or Saturday game day. The Annual Gala Ball is a great event bringing together players, sponsors, parents and friends of both the Hornsby Rugby Junior and Senior clubs. The event is expected to sell quickly so get in early to secure your ticket.

Tickets cost $75 per person and can be purchased up until Saturday 14th July. The ball will be held on Saturday 28th July at the Hornsby RSL. For more information please speak to Ian Crothers or watch the Gala Ball event page!

50th Anniversary Merchandise

Please take a look at our full range of merchandise for the 50th anniversary. We also have a supply of supporters jerseys , these are long sleeve cotton jerseys without the anniversary logo. If you are interested in these products please contact Tristan Jones:
- Sticker $2.50
- Stubby holder $6.00
- Key ring $8.00
- Cap $15.00
- Polo shirt $35.00
- Support jersey (Junior size) $30
- Supporter jersey (Adult size) $50
- Hoodie jumper (available in red or black) $50.00

50th Anniversary Logo

Tony Hannay designed a new logo to celebrate Hornsby Rugby Club's 50th anniversary. The logo will adorn the club's jerseys for 2012 as well as a new set of 50th Anniversary merchandise. It will also be used as a focal point for the ongoing celebrations of the 50th anniversary.

Club History

There is some evidence that Rugby was played in Hornsby as early as 1906. There exists a photograph of a Hornsby "Football" team taken in that year. The photograph includes an obviously Rugby shaped ball as well as Jimmy Bancks, the creator of the Ginger Meggs comic strip. There are also photographs of Hornsby Rugby teams taken during the 1940s and 50s.

Moves to re-establish the club began with an initial public meeting at the Pymble Community Hall in late 1961. The move to form the club was in response to the Sydney Rugby Union's decision to establish a Second Division of the Sydney Grade Competition in 1962.

The Club opened the season with twenty-nine players and entered two teams in the competition. Numbers of players increased in ensuing years and a Third Grade side was entered in 1963 and a Fourth Grade side in 1964. This year also saw the great All Black and Waikato player Don Clarke tour Australia. While here he agreed to play for Hornsby against Mosman at Waitara Oval on Saturday 11th July. He helped Hornsby to the win by scoring a try and kicking two penalties and three conversions. There was some restrictions place upon from where he could attempt goal kicks. Apparrently one successful attempt was from beyond halfway and landed in the tennis courts at the southern end of the ground. Clarke's legacy remains as his Waikato province team colours of Red, Black and Gold provided the inspiration for the Hornsby jersey.

In 1965 Hornsby was the first district club in the Sydney Rugby competition to form a Colt's team which had a great year even making the semi-finals. During the 1970s Hornsby developed as a strong Second Division Club and held hopes of gaining entry into the Sydney First Division competition. The introduction of promotion and relegation provided the club with this opportunity in 1976. Hornsby struggled to be competitive at this level of competition as a club however our First Grade produced some creditable performances.

The late 1970s also saw Hornsby Rugby Club establish a strong link with the Fijian community as a number of players from the Nadi district arrived to bolster our ranks. Some of these players were Fijian internationals and included Nasivi Ravouvou and Joe Savou. In more recent years Hornsby Rugby has welcomed players from many backgrounds and has developed a particularly strong association with the Tongan Community.

Hornsby returned to the Second Division in 1979 a much stronger club and was determined to return to the top level. This was achieved in 1981 and the club managed two First Grade wins and one Second Grade win but was unable to avoid relegation. It is worth noting that Hornsby fielded four Colt's teams in 1981, a fact which undoubtedly made some neighbouring clubs nervous and may well have hastened the Sydney Rugby Union's decision to abandon the promotion and relegation system.

Hornsby continued as a strong Second Division club, regularly having all or most of our teams playing in the finals. The Club was still hopeful that promotion and relegation would be introduced giving us the opportunity to regain access to the higher level of competition. The promotion of Drummoyne in 1990 appeared to create that opportunity but Hornsby was denied access to the First Division despite winning the Second Division Club Championship three years in succession.

This was an era of significant success on the playing field for the Club. The Lions had a series of almost invincible Colt's teams and won many premierships including the 1991 First Grade, Third Grade and Colts Premierships and the 1991 and 1992 Club Championship trophy.

In 1993 the Second Division competition was combined with the Sydney Suburban competition. As winners of the Sydney Second Division competition in 1991 and 1992 Hornsby were promoted directly into Div 1 of the new Suburban competition which included 17 teams. The club continued their strong success that year winning the Second Grade, Third Grade and Colts Premierships and the Bruce Graham Sheild (Club Championship).

The structure changed in 1994 with only the top ten teams from 1993 remaining in Div 1 and Hornsby stuggled in this format until they were relegated to Subbies Div 2 following a 10th place finish in 1997.

Hornsby remained in the Second Division of the Sydney Suburban competition for 14 consecutive years. Over that time the Lions had a strong presence in the finals series and won several premierships.

A poor end to the 2011 season saw the Lions drop down to the Third Division however they continue to focus on providing the opportunity for people to play with a friendly and committed club. Strong associations with the local community and schools as well as the continued development of our Junior club will stand us in good stead during our fiftieth year celebrations in 2012 and onwards.